Save Admirals Walk natural historical wetlands from the developers

Residents in the area adjacent to Broxbourne's Admirals Meadow natural wetlands greenbelt area are horrified to discover that property developers the Anderson Group have applied to build 47 new homes on this wetland site of ecological and historical importance.

The effect will be devastating to both wildlife and the safety of the current community. The deadline for objecting to these proposals is 2nd November.

This is historical meadowland comprising marshland and lakes, and is home to over 50 species of wild bird, including the rare and elusive Bittern. There are also 35 species of mammal, from the secretive otter to the charismatic water vole, a huge variety of insects including over half the UK’s species of dragonfly and hundreds of species of plant.

It also acts as a natural floodplain, meaning that existing nearby homes do not risk inundation after heavy rains.

In order to build on the meadow, major works would have to be carried out to make the ground dry and stable, and as a result flood water would be diverted to other residential areas.

The construction process would also expose this rural area to 2 years' of heavy construction traffic and would expose local families to possible contamination from airborne asbestos, arsenic, cyanide, lead and chromium amongst other toxic materials. These would potentially also enter the Thames Water owned New River canal, an aqueduct built in 1613 which flows alongside taking water to London, which provides almost 10% of London's drinking water.

Past proposals to put football pitches here have even been turned down due to contamination risks and groundwater - these developers must be turned down from ruining a historical Hertfordshire Greenbelt area of ecological importance.